A Japanese startup has unveiled a smart face mask that connects to smartphones and lets users make calls remotely, without speaking directly into their mobiles. Capable of sending text messages via speech, its developer Donut Robotics is marketing it as a way to remain connected during the coronavirus era. Dubbed the "C-Mask," the device fits over regular, fabric-based masks. It connects to an app via Bluetooth, enabling it to transcribe speech to text messages, which are then sent via the user’s smartphone. It can also translate from Japanese into eight other languages and amplify the user’s voice, in case they can’t be heard through the mask.